7 Ways To Stick With Dry January
Did you take the Dry January challenge? Millions are doing it worldwide this year. That means no alcohol for 30 days. Can you handle it? You may already know how hard it is to stop the partying, or even to refrain from popping the cork at home. So many rituals are involved in drinking. And myths, as well. You may think drinking makes you feel better, even though you know hangovers make you sick the next day. So when is it hardest? On the weekends, of course. Many people can get through the week without the booze, but struggle with temptation as the weekend arrives. There’s the bar scene, the wine list at dinner, and Sunday brunch beckoning. All these factors arise during your precious time off from work. These expert tips will help you ride out the next four weekends and make your Dry January a success.
Do What You Always Do
Just because you’re giving up drinking doesn’t mean you have to stay home while your social circle is downing shots at a dance club or sampling the vino at a new bistro. In fact, not showing up might just give you a case of FOMO, which could cause you to lose your resolve later in the month.
Instead, “do the same things you would usually do with your friends and loved ones, but just do them without drinking,” suggests Jenna Hollenstein, MS, RDN, author of Drinking to Distraction. You may even notice that after 10 o’clock, your friends get boring or stupid, and you’ll likely be glad you’re not the one who will waste three-quarters of the next day sleeping off a hangover or regretting a drunk dial.
UnFollow The Drinkers
Everyone has that one friend (or five) who constantly posts pics of herself at parties with a drink in her hand, looking like she’s having a blast. Don’t torture yourself! Unfollow your harder-drinking buddies for the month, so you don’t start to feel deprived every time you go on Instagram.
Fill The Fridge With Fun Booze Alternatives
Sometimes it’s the rituals around drinking—the pop of a cork, the glug-glug sound of booze pouring into a glass—that we crave even more than the taste or effects of the alcohol itself, says Hollenstein. Think about what you like most about about your go-to drink and give yourself nonalcoholic options to indulge in instead. La Croix can stand in for hard cider, a bottled kombucha could fill in for your favorite yeasty beer, and some fancy juices now come in corked bottles.
Explore The World Of Zero Cocktails
Most bartenders can make beautiful alcohol-free versions of any drink on their fancy menu. Don’t want to drop $10 on a nonalcoholic drink? Oder a zero proof drink. If you’re hosting friends or otherwise staying in, whip up these yummy mocktails, and thank us later.
How Much Money Will You Save
If you find yourself feeling really down that you can’t imbibe, try this instant cheer-up idea: Pull out your phone, fire up the calculator, and multiply the average cost of a drink at your favorite watering hole by the number of drinks you’d normally buy in the month of January. Doesn’t that number look good?
Spend The Money You Save On Self Care
Passing on a good bottle of wine while everyone else is enjoying themselves isn’t easy. So give yourself props for sticking to your goal by indulging in some self-care that will reinforce how good you feel—a leisurely run, a relaxing mani-pedi, or even the quiet luxury of sleeping in and catching up on rest.
Concentrate On The Positives
As you hear the clicking of glasses and see so many people drinking and enjoying themselves, fight the temptation to give in by contemplating what giving up booze has done for you so far. Are you more energized? Less bloated than usual? How’s your skin looking? If you’re not sure you’re seeing any health benefits yet, think about the resolve it took to make the commitment to give up alcohol for an entire month—and know you have the strength to see it through.
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